Extracted Text

The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:

regarding reason: "This is not an attack on human reason in its totality, nor is it an attempt tobase life on a voluntaristic or instinctual basis: Rochester is himself too rationalistic to denyreason completely" (578)-hence, the narrator's defiance of what one typically regards as reasonand his acceptance of right reason. In lines 25-30 of the poem, the poetic persona assumes a toneof reluctance and disappointment at the idea of following reason. He says:Then Old Age, and experience, hand in hand,Lead him to death, and make him understand,After a search so painful, and so long,That all his Life he has been in the wrong;Huddled in dirt, the reas'ning Engine lyes,Who was so proud, so witty, so wise. (Satyr 1. 25-30)Since "Old Age and experience" come "hand in hand," the older men must submit themselves to"the reas'ning Engine" and can no longer live as libertines following their natural instincts (1. 25,29). However, according to the narrator, the fate of older men is not as simple as switchingone's allegiance from libertinism to reason.At old age these libertines, or "young debauchees," must renounce their former libertinebehavior and replace it with behavior that models reason and implicitly obeys institutionalauthority. Once these young men reach old age, the narrator argues, they realize their libertineapproach "all [their] Life has been in the wrong" (1. 28). Instead of directly stating that livingaccording to the dictates of reason offers one nothing but monotony and dependence on authorityfigures, the poetic persona expresses opposition to following instincts. The life of freedom fromauthority and rules established by virtually all forms of authority does not guarantee or bringabout happiness, but destroys happiness (1. 33). By following their own "wisdom" instead of thewisdom set forth by reason, older individuals realize their "pride," "wit," "wisdom" and"equat[ing] [of] instinctual gratification with happiness" led to their relegating status of"Wretch" (Satyr 1. 30-32, Chernaik 67). That is, adhering to the libertine lifestyle results in